NEWS
DCFS
MES SAG E F RO M T H E DI R EC TO R
Concurrent Planning is Key
to Improving Timelines
to Permanency
A
s we move forward on achieving better outcomes
for children and families, we cannot discount the
importance of Concurrent Planning, a vital case
management tool.
The goal of Concurrent Planning is to work toward family
reunification, while at the same time developing an alternative
permanent placement plan, preferably with extended family.
The alternate plan will often include adoption as a major
alternative to family reunification. Concurrent Planning is
intended to reduce the total period of time a child remains in
foster care before being permanently placed with a family.
The strategy of Concurrent Planning is consistent with our
Department goal of reducing timelines to permanency. To
improve Concurrent Planning, we will need to make structural
changes that allow us to provide services simultaneously
rather than sequentially. For example, in most offices, the
Emergency Response worker conducts an investigation, and
then transfers the case to the Family Maintenance/Family
Reunification (FM/FR) worker who provides ongoing services.
The FM/FR worker is singularly responsible for all case
activities. In addition to case management work, the FM/FR
worker carries out all functions related to Termination of
Parental Rights (TPR) filing, referrals to contracted providers,
etc. Finally, in situations where a TPR occurs, an Adoption
worker then becomes responsible for all case activities. In the
past, this process has delayed permanency.
The Department has made some changes to address this
delay. Specifically, Point of Engagement at the Wateridge and
Compton offices, along with the Torrance Adoption Model,
are ways we have streamlined the permanency plan process.
The key is servicing families as early as possible through
teaming social workers who have different responsibilities.
Support staff will also be brought into this team to allow social
workers to focus on working directly with families on
permanency plans.
Currently we are working to make Team Decision-Making
changes to better support Concurrent Planning and to address
the TPR process. We will continue to work with Locals 550
and 660 and the Staff Advisory Forum on these changes.
It is critical that children brought into our care achieve
stability and permanency as quickly as possible. Improvement
in the consistent use of Concurrent Planning will improve
timelines to permanency and is a key strategy for creating
more stability for children.
David Sanders, Ph.D.
Director
Fall 2004
I nsi de T hi s I ssue :
2 Success Stories
6 SPA Spots
4 Resource Families
7 Director's Youth Council
5 On the Line
8 Upcoming Events
Compton Office
Opens in South Los Angeles
New Facility Houses Innovative
'Compton Project'
I
n the first six weeks of operation, staff at the Compton office began to
notice dramatic results in the way they were serving children and
families in the South Los Angeles area. More families were working
through their problems, taking advantage of services provided and keeping
their children safely in the home. In that six-week period, staff investigated
500 referrals, yet only two children had to be removed from their homes
and placed in foster care. Impressive outcomes for a project that had begun
as a vision just a year earlier.
The vision for the Compton Project began with discussions between
community stakeholders and the Department on the best ways to develop
an innovative, community-based office that would provide increased
services to children and families and keep children out of foster care. What
emerged in June encompasses these goals.
"We aren't the 'Department of Placement.' We aren't the 'Department of
Separation'," said DCFS Director Dr. David Sanders at the community
grand opening of the Compton office in July. "Our job isn't to be distant
from the community, but to be part of it. That's what we're about. Our job
is to serve children and families."
Dr. Sanders also praised DCFS staff for the year of hard work developing
the Compton Project and building community partnerships. "Staff has
developed the relationships to move this project forward. This staff is an
incredible group," he said.
Although the South Los Angeles area is home to about a quarter of the
children served by the Department, the Compton office is the first office
based in that community to provide a comprehensive group of services to
10,000 foster youth. It is planned to be used as a model in service
delivery for the Department's other offices and throughout
the nation.
Along with DCFS, staff from the Los Angeles
County Department of Mental Health (DMH)
are housed in the Compton office and are
a vital part of the Compton Project.
DCFS and DMH work hand -in
- hand to efficiently provide
the comprehensive health,
mental health and community
services needed by clients.
Compton Project staff are
also working closely with
the provider community,
schools, churches, law
enforcement and hospitals to work on placement avoidance and
placement prevention.
Continuted on Page 3
Compton Office Entrance
Information for Employees of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services
1
DCFS Success Stories
A
s a regular part of "DCFS News," we will recognize the successes of the Los Angeles County Department of Child ren
an Family Services (DCFS) and its community partners. These success stories will be diverse and offer an opportunity
for staff and community partners to celebrate accomplishments and share the good work they are doing. To submit
story ideas for this section, please e-mail Stuart Riskin of the DCFS Office of Public Affairs at [email protected].
Caregiver Praises Clerk
for Being Efficient, Caring
Lonnie Woods , an Intermediate Supervising Typist Clerk in the Central Clerical Foster
Care Approval and Payments section of Revenue Enhancement has a big job to do. Not only
does he supervise 24 clerks in four units,Woods
oversees the Foster Care and Adoptions Assistance
Hotline support staff who handle payLonnie Woods
ment issues , medical card issuance, rate
changes, request for adoptions assistance and
related budgetary issues in support of Children's related budgetary
issues in support of Children's Social Workers.
To succeed at his job, Woods says you have to have good
communication skills, motivation, patience and professionalism
while being friendly at all times. If you can explain to a caregiver the
situation and its limitations, says Woods, they may not like what they
hear, but they will accept it. The bottom line is to "try to smooth out
the rough edges" and to remedy the situation as soon as possible.
"Always ask questions and always call back."
Recently, DCFS Director Dr. David Sanders received a letter from
a relative caregiver who described her interaction with Woods: "Mr.
Woods is one of the most efficient, caring, and professional managers
I have dealt with in the Department. As a grandparent, it is most
comforting to know that you are relating to a person, whose utmost
concern is how to facilitate the process and be supportive during a
time of crisis. Mr. Woods personifies that individual."
Woods, who describes himself as a County "lifer" employed for
36 years, has seen many changes since starting his career just two
days after graduation from Thomas Jefferson High School. Through
the years, Woods has kept active in union activities. Currently, he is a
Union Shop Steward, a member of the Labor-Management
Committee, and a part of the Department's clerical redeployment
workgroup. Most of Woods' career has been involved in customer
relations. When asked what has sustained him through all these
years, Woods noted, "I'm a people person."
Fox 11 News Anchor Christine
Devine (right) and one of the
families she's helped through
"Wednesday's Child".
2
ITC Supervisor is
’Backbone’ of Covina Annex
Intermediate Typist Clerk Supervisor Shirley
McHenry retired from the Department in 1989
because of her husband's health. But she wasn't
gone for long. McHenry was asked to return in
1990 and 14 years later at age 69 she is still
working and has no plans for retirement. "I love
working with these wonderful employees," she
Shirley McHenry
says. "I have to keep busy. I wouldn't know
what to do with myself."
Busy is an understatement. McHenry is a dynamo, thinking creatively and always going above and beyond what is expected. Three
days a week, she supervises clerical staff, orders cell phones, sets up
CPR training for staff, supervises summer interns, organizes
fundraising sales for decorating the building and even finds time to
play Mrs. Santa Claus for the children in the Medically Fragile Unit at
Christmas. Recently, McHenry used money she raised to buy a new
conference table for the Asian Pacific Unit.
Staff feelings for McHenry run very deep and their statements
speak volumes. Regional Administrator Amaryllis Watkins describes
McHenry as "the backbone" of the Covina Annex. "She is efficient,
has the most positive attitude at all times and has made our office look
and feel child-centered by the decorations she generously contributes.
This is a welcoming environment not only for the children and families
we serve, but also a boost to the staff."
When she's not busy making the Covina Annex a more inviting
place, McHenry has a very full family life, which includes 18
grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. You can also find her at
the mini-stockcar races in Victorville where she cheers on her son, sonin-law and grandson who are all racecar drivers.
"What we hear said most often about Shirley," said Watkins, "is
that people want to be just like her when they grow up." A true
testament to this valuable DCFS employee.
’Wednesday’s Child’ Celebrates 10-Year
Partnership with DCFS
Every week on the Fox 11 10 o'clock News, children looking
for loving families to call their own are profiled on a news
segment called "Wednesday's Child." In October, Fox 11 celebrates 10 years of successfully finding homes for hundreds of
Los Angeles County children waiting for adoption through
"Wednesday's Child" (formerly called "Sunday's Child") sponsored by the Freddie Mac Foundation.
In the past four years since the program became "Wednesday's
Child," 51 children featured on the program have been adopted,
36 are waiting for a court date to finalize their adoptions and 90
children have prospective adoptive families identified. "Wednesday's Child," a partnership between DCFS, Fox 11 and the
Freddie Mac Foundation, boasts a 70 percent success rate
Continuted on Page 3
Compton Office
Continuted from Page 1
"We aren't the 'Department of Placement.' We
aren't the 'Department of Separation.' Our job
isn't to be distant from the community, but to be
part of it. That's what we're about."
-- Dr. David Sanders, DCFS Director
Making sure that families get appropriate services to
reduce the reoccurrence of abuse and address the issue of
permanency for children are the main goals of the
Compton Project.
Most of the families served by the office need help
dealing with the day-to-day stresses of life, as well as with
more serious issues such as unemployment and substance
abuse, explained DCFS Regional Administrator Eric
Marts, who spear-headed the Compton Project and now
heads the office. The best way to do that, noted Marts, is
by building strong community partnerships with providers
who are already in the community.
"Not only do we need to be in the community - we need
to be a part of the community," said Marts.
DCFS staff at the Compton Office are excited about
the future and look forward to working with the South Los
Angeles community to improve services to children and
families helping them avoid the foster care, as well as
improve the outcomes for thousands of children in foster
care.
The Compton office is located at 921 East Compton
Boulevard. For more information about the Compton
Project, call Eric Marts, at (310) 668-6605.
Compton Office Interior
Success Stories
Continuted from Page 2
with many harder-to-place older youth and sibling sets
finding new homes.
Fox 11 reporter and anchor Christine Devine produces
"Wednesday's Child." Devine, with the help of Los
Angeles County Department of Children and Family
Services staff member William Wong, has been an integral
part of creating positive outcomes for children. For more
information on "Wednesday's Child," please call William
Wong at (626) 229-3783.
New Emancipation
Division Chief Seeks
to Build Partnerships
R
helda Shabazz, the new
Emancipation Services
Division Chief for the
Los Angeles Department of Children and
Family Services (D C F S ), plans
to use her extensive experience
in child welfare and background
in communications to ensure that
the Emancipation Services program fits into the DCFS goal of
permanency for youth. Shabazz
was appointed in August with input from the Emancipation PartRhelda Shabazz
nership, which includes representatives from the Chief Administrative Office, Probation and
numerous other stakeholders.
Shabazz plans to work to strengthen partnerships with
stakeholders, especially the Emancipation Partnership. Shabazz
said she aims to find a balance between the Partnership's goals
and the goals of the Department. "The goal will be to reach a
full understanding between the two that will be in the best
interests of the emancipating youth," explained Shabazz. "I am
really excited about the position."
Shabazz comes to her new assignment with a strong
background in child welfare services and a wealth of experience
in developing and working with community partnerships.
Shabazz has worked for DCFS for 20 years. She started her
career as a Children's Social Worker (CSW). She worked for
four years as a court officer and five years as a line Supervising
CSW in the Metro North Office. Shabazz was also an Assistant
Regional Administrator in the Wateridge and Torrance offices.
For the last four years, Shabazz played a leadership role in the
Community Based Support Division within Services Bureau 2.
For three of those years, she was an Interim Division Chief and
helped to oversee the Family Support Program, a federal
program open to all families, and the Family Preservation
Program that contracts with 38 network agencies to provide
support services to DCFS families to help keep families
together. In addition, she provided oversight for the Department's Child Care Program, Victims of Crime Program, and
1733/2994 federally funded programs.
Shabazz received a bachelor's degree in Communications
from UC Santa Barbara and a master's degree in Counseling/
Psychology from Loyola Marymount University.
3
Work Begins to Recruit
Resource Families
Department's Self Improvement
Plan Goes to State
"DCFS News" recently sat down with Nina Powell-McCall,
Program Manager for Foster and Adoption Recruitment, to
discuss the concept of the "resource family."
As part of AB 636, the Los Angeles County
Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
has completed its Self-Assessment and System
Improvement Plan (SIP) which is now on its way to
the California State Department of Social Services.
The Self-Assessment is conducted every three
years and provides a snapshot of how the
Department is currently doing. The SIP is a yearly
report that includes a plan for how the Department
will improve its child welfare performance and
guides imple-mentation and monitoring of those
improvements.
The road to developing the Self-Assessment and
SIP was paved with months of self-analysis, improvement recommendations, meetings with stakeholders and Peer Quality Case Reviews used to
gather qualitative data that was included in the SelfAssessment, the blueprint for the SIP.
Six Peer Quality Case Reviews of 12 cases each
were completed from March through August in order
to examine issues such as: What are the barriers to
social workers?, How involved are the families in
case planning?, and How effective are the services
and programs we provide to families?
Six DCFS Service Planning Areas (SPAs)
participated in the Peer Quality Case Reviews. A
team comprised of eight DCFS staff from the SPA
being reviewed and other staff from a visiting SPA
participated in the review process.
The information taken from the reviews are
outlined as strengths and weaknesses in the SelfAssessment. This information was used as a basis for
the SIP.
A copy of the Department's Self Assessment and
Self Improvement Plan are posted on the L.A. Kids
web site.
"DCFS NEWS"
How is a resource family different from a traditional foster or adoptive
family?
NPM
The resource family is committed to working with the birth parents
to strengthen reunification. Resource families are committed to the
permanency of children and therefore are willing to adopt that child
as a permanency solution if reunification is not possible.
"DCFS NEWS"
How does this concept fit into the idea of concurrent planning?
NPM
The resource family facilitates concurrent planning. Because the
desired end result is sometimes reunification, that's a hard concept
to handle and can be very emotionally hard on the resource family.
But we have many giving and selfless resource families who are
willing to work on a permanency plan for a child's future, even it
does not include them as parents.
"DCFS NEWS"
What does a resource family look like and who are you looking for?
NPM
We are looking for people who are flexible, adaptable and willing
to commit. We are actively recruiting families for medically fragile
children, teens and sibling groups. We are also looking for Spanishspeaking families, Asian-language families and families that meet
the cultural needs of the children we serve.
"DCFS NEWS"
How are we recruiting resource families?
NPM
We have established partnerships with various agencies, such as
Rancho Los Amigos which deals with medically fragile children,
and we are looking at more outreach within the faith-based
community. Currently, we are seeing more streamlined recruitment
efforts because of the merger of the foster and adoptive recruitment
sections. We have also begun the Consolidated Home Study Project
so that all families, foster and adoptive, will be assessed at the
same level, which meets the State's standards for adoptions.
"DCFS NEWS"
How can social workers help?
NPM
Social workers can help resource families by being supportive of
them. They can also help them deal with their feelings and
relationships with the birth parents. Social workers can also call
the Foster and Adoption Recruitment section with ideas for
outreach to the communities in which they work. In addition, they
can refer children on their caseload who are in long-term foster
care for an adoption assessment. Permanency Liaison workers in
the regional offices can help with that.
4
Self Assessments
Areas of Strength
Decline in number of first entries into foster care
Decline in rate of children in foster care
Lower rate of recurrence of abuse or neglect when
children are not removed from the home
Major decline in foster care re-entry rate
Low rate of multiple foster care placements
Least restrictive placement setting
Areas Needing Improvement
Recurrence of maltreatment
Rate of child Abuse or neglect in foster care
Length of time to exit foster care to reunification
Length of time to exit foster care to adoption
Management Information Systems
Services array
Social worker workload
Robert Haley
Supervising Children's Social Worker
Lakewood Office
Member of the Peer Quality Case Review Team
"I was most interested in the
experience of the CSW
providing services to the cases. I
tended to focus on the impact
that servicing cases has on
the worker as an individual. I
was impressed at the level of
commitment demonstrated by
each of the workers that I
interviewed … Overall, I'd say
the experience was a good one."
Rose Powder
Children's Social Worker III
Lakewood Office
Member of the Peer Quality Case Review Tea
"I enjoyed my experience on the
team, and especially working
with staff from different levels.
It helped to know that
sometimes social workers and
management do have common
goals, and that management
supports us in attempting to
reach them. Together we were
an extremely creative force,
and were able to meet the goals
of the project."
ON THE LINE
Luck Has Nothing to Do With It
Worker Builds Relationships to Finalize High
Number of Adoptions
T
o hear Adoption Children's Social Worker(CSW) Nicole
Engel tell it, her outstanding track record of finalizing a high
Nicole Engel
number of adoptions is based on luck. But those who work with
Engel know better - luck has nothing to do with it. Engel's steadfast
dedication to providing permanent homes for children is what drives her to succeed.
"Committed," "an advocate" and "willing to work with others" are all terms coworkers use to describe Engel. But Engel remains humble and instead, heaps praise on
others. "I get by because my co-workers are all here," she said. "There are a lot of great
workers out there." Despite her humility, the proof of Engel's success is in the numbers.
Last year, she placed more than 20 children in adoptive homes, well above the average
of one a month.
Engel has worked in the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family
Services (DCFS) Lakewood Adoptions Office since beginning her career with DCFS six
years ago. She decided to become a social worker after college during an internship
where she worked with inner city seventh graders in Washington, D.C.
When she started as an Adoption worker, Engel describes the experience as "death by
fire." At the time, she was carrying a caseload of about 100. Things have settled down
and now her caseload is at about 55.
"She has developed and matured into an excellent team player, a dedicated and very
sensitive social worker," said Supervising Children's Social Worker Jose Lujan, who has
supervised Engel since 1999. "The quality of her overall case management skills as an
advocate for children and as a clinician is excellent and consistently demonstrated in her
casework."
"I am always impressed with how positive
Nicole is, even when facing very challenging
case circumstances. She has a great deal of
stamina and a 'can do' attitude."
-- Adoptions ARA Joe Prusak
Recently, Engel became part of the expanded Torrance Adoption Model. The Torrance
Adoption Model uses a team approach to promote early and on-going case planning
coordination between the child protection and adoption social workers assigned to a
child's case to achieve the goal of timely adoptions. Engel has been highly effective in
developing constructive, collaborative relationships with regional colleagues through
implementation of the Torrance Adoption Model in the Lakewood office.
"I am always impressed with how positive Nicole is, even when facing very
challenging case circumstances. She has a great deal of stamina and a 'can do' attitude.
She is determined to achieve the best permanency outcome for each child. She clearly
believes in a team approach and in working collaboratively. This is the basis of the
'Torrance Model' and it's a natural fit with Nicole's style," explained Adoptions Assistant
Regional Administrator Joe Prusak.
Co-workers also view Engel positively. Unit member Kateri Carriere said, "Nicole is
one of our favorite people. She offers her help readily and is always available to give
advice. She is so generous with her time and knowledge. In the six years I have worked
with her she has made my job so much easier and so much more fun. She is so well
respected and so well liked around here!"
Engel is happy meeting challenges head-on such as setting up an adoption for older,
higher-needs youth or putting a sibling set back together in an adoptive home. "Putting
together an unattached family with a child is exciting and feels good," she said.
5
SPA SPOTS
'Tour de Lakewood/Torrance' Pedals for Clean Air
Early this year, Lakewood-Torrance Office Clerical Administrator Carrol Harris, decided
to pedal for clean air after receiving a flier from the Los Angeles County Department of Transportation regarding Clean Air Month. She organized a group of 10 staff members for the effort,
however, by May 20, 2004, "Our proud group of 10 ended up being a faithful four," she said.
The group didn't get a lot of practice in before the ride. Still, the four friends gathered that
early morning in Paramount and pedaled the 5.6 miles to the Lakewood office, but only one
way. "Believe me, it wasn't as easy as it sounds. Still, they had a wonderful time as they ached
along the miles of terrain!," said Harris. The group says that they learned a lot being together,
being supportive and encouraging each other. They are already planning next year's ride and
are actively recruiting many co-workers to join them in pedaling for clean air. To sign up,
please call Harris at (562) 497-3314.
Mommy, Daddy, What Do You Do All Day at Work?
County employees were encouraged to take their children, between the ages of nine and
16, to work on April 20, 2004, as part of "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. It was a chance for employees' children to see where their parents worked and what they did for a living. At DCFS headquarters,
children could be seen filing and stocking shelves and helping to prepare certificates of acknowledgement for their participation on this special day.
The goal for next year's event is for stronger attendance throughout the entire Department.
For information on the national "Take our Daughters and Sons To Work Day", you may wish to
check their web site at www.daughtersandsonstowork.org.
Transitional Housing Youth Mix and Mingle
The Second Annual Transitional Housing Youth Retreat and Recognition event was a success hosting 170 youth at Ladera Park on June 19, 2004. The event, which was funded by United Friends of the Children (UFC), provided a fun-filled day for the youth and provided a chance
for youth to mingle, interact, share information and network with their peers. The goal was to
nurture a sense of community and help youth develop support systems. The retreat also recognized those youth completing the program.
"Tommy the Clown" was the day's entertainment highlight. He not only entertained, but
provided a positive message to youth regarding the attainment of an education, working toward
goals and taking advantage of opportunities that the Transitional Housing Program has to offer.
In a humorous yet serious moment, he shared a few personal points about challenges in his life.
His mantra, "Not to give in nor to give up!" resonated with the group. In high-stepping style,
he engaged the youth with the latest hip-hop tunes to callisthenic dance routines, and comedic
magic tricks.
Additional fun included sack races, various field and board games, arts and crafts, and a
hula-hoop contest. Gifts included T-shirts and a $50 Office Depot gift cards. All youth received a ticket for the door prize drawings, which included Disneyland, Magic Mountain, and Universal Studio passes.
Third Annual Kinship Conference
In every issue, "DCFS News" will provide
information about what's happening in the
Los Angeles County Department of
Children and Family Services' (DCFS)
Service Planning Areas (SPAs). If you have
SPA news to report, please submit your
ideas to Stuart Riskin of the DCFS Public
Affairs Office at [email protected]
6
The DCFS Kinship Care Division hosted about 300 caregivers at their third annual Kinship
Conference, "Keeping Permanent Family Connections" on June 2, 2004 at the Radisson Hotel in
Culver City. Dr. America Bracho, a nationally recognized leader on health issues in the Latino
community was the keynote speaker. Her dynamic, plainspoken message addressed the issue
of empowerment and the need for caregivers to overcome fears in order to succeed. This will
help them to be open to utilizing new ideas and better strategies in raising the children in their
care, said Bracho.
The well-attended conference provided caregivers with an enjoyable opportunity to meet
and talk with others who are experiencing the same rewards and challenges as caregivers. Resources specific to their needs were available at the event. The conference also provided the opportunity to raise awareness of the special issues faced by kinship caregivers such as raising
grandchildren on fixed incomes and how family dynamics change when relatives become foster
parents. So that all caregiver needs were met, two workshops were presented specifically in
Spanish.
Kinship Care Services staff was commended for their excellence in producing such a valuable and well planned training event for kin caregivers and other committed stakeholders. Caregivers' response to the event was overwhelmingly positive. They felt that the choice of workshop topics was very well thought out and that the keynote speaker was excellent.
DCFS Raises $3,000 During Walk-a-Thon
On Saturday, April 24, 2004 the March of Dimes highlighted its
2004 fundraising campaign "Strike Out Prematurely" with an
annual Walk-a-Thon. DCFS Director David Sanders, one of the
campaign's chairpersons, led the Department in the 5-mile walk at
Griffith Park along with Team DCFS.
This year's top DCFS fundraiser was Mary Jane Abyss of the
North Hollywood office, who raised over $650. Abyss has been
raising money for the March of Dimes since 1984. "It's a good
cause and after all, we work with children. It's also the one time a
year that I get to catch up with my friends at the DPSS," she said.
Mary Jane usually can be found walking with her niece or other
family members.
Beverly Yates, who was this year's DCFS team captain assisted
by Susan Jakubowski of Team D CF S, spearheaded the Department's March of Dimes fundraising activities. To date, about
$3,000 has been raised by D CF S from the walk and other fundraising items. The DCFS Executive Team posted a $1,300 matching
challenge to the rest of the Department.
Each bureau selected a team leader who was in charge of selling
items such as Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Beanie Babies to raise
additional funds. Team Captains also set up activities such as bake
sales. To get involved in next year's Walk-a-Thon, contact Beverly
Yates at (213) 351-5772.
Caregivers Turn Out in Droves for Third
Annual Angel Heart Awards
More than 1,000 foster and relative caregivers gathered to be honored at
the Third Annual Angel Heart Caregiver luncheon on May 26, 2004 at the
Pacific Palms Resort in City of Industry.
Recipients in six categories received special recognition at the event.
They included:
Outstanding Licensed Foster Parent Irma Daniels
Relative Caregiver Rexford Crawford
Adoptive Parent Marlene Gumbs
Specialized Caregiver Jerome Ming-Lee
Outstanding Legal Guardian Hattie Mae Smith
Outstanding Foster Family Agency Caregivers Diane and Andrew Barda.
Nominees were submitted by CSWs to the DCFS Foster Care Home
Support Services Section. The nominating criteria were based on the Five
Outcome Measures for Foster Children set down in the DCFS Strategic
Plan of 2000 as well as Dr. Sanders' additional three goals.
Daytime television actress Victoria Rowell and Chief of Staff for
Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke John Hill gave rousing speeches. Both
speakers had been foster children and had deep, heart-felt thanks to their
foster parents. They believed that a good part of their personal success
came from the outstanding jobs their caregivers had done for them. Other
speakers included DCFS Medical Director/Interim Chief Deputy Director
Dr. Charles Sophy and Masters of Ceremony Eric "Rico" Reed.
Youth Voices Heard
Director's Youth Council Brings Together Foster Youth to Discuss Issues
DCFS Dr. David Sanders meets with
members of the Director's Younth Counsil.
C
urrent and former foster youth now
have a way to voice their concerns
and ideas directly to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and
Family Services (DCFS). Under the
Director's Youth Council, a new group
made up of 20 former and current foster
youth, youth are participating in the
decision-making process regarding issues
that directly affect their quality-of-life.
The group began meeting with DCFS
Director Dr. Sanders in July.
"As we move toward our goal of
positive outcomes for the youth that we
serve it is important that we include the
voice of that youth in the decisionmaking process," said Dr. Sanders. "The
youth that we serve are assets to our
community and we should encourage
them to participate in making meaningful
decisions on issues that affect them.
Instead of making decisions for youth we
need to begin to make decisions with our
youth."
The Director's Youth Council meets
every six weeks to discuss the issues that
are most important to them. The youth
have already begun working on issues
related to family reunification, specifically, their view of the best practices in
promoting safe, timely, and successful
family reunifications. They have also
begun to survey youth in group homes
through a formal Group Home Evaluation. The survey, drafted with the input
of the youth, allows participants to share
their placement experience in an effort to
enhance the quality of care provided by
group homes.
Berisha Black, a former foster youth
and the DCFS Emancipation Ombudsman, is responsible for coordinating the
Director's Youth Council. Black feels
very strongly about the positive impact
that the Director's Youth Council can
have on the Department policies.
"These meetings give foster youth an
opportunity to raise their concerns to the
Director," she said. "It is a way for them
to advocate for changes in the Department and gives voice to emancipated
foster youth to share their ideas for
change. It also gives youth an opportunity to give back and help the youth
coming behind them. My hope is for the
Department to really value the input of
the youth and incorporate their voice in
shaping the goals of the Department."
For more information on the Director's
Youth Council, please call Berisha Black,
DCFS Emancipation Ombudsman, at
(626) 229-3829.
7
As part of the new "DCFS All Stars" employee
recognition program, one Los Angeles County
Department of Children and Family Services
employee in three different categories will be
honored every month by the Director for
enriching the lives of the children and families
and contributing to our goals of permanence,
safety and reduced reliance on out-of-home care.
We're still looking for "DCFS All Stars" to
honor in the months ahead and you are
encouraged to send in nominations using forms on
the L.A. Kids web site. For more information on
the "DCFS All Stars" employee recognition
program, please call Lois Shirk in the DCFS
Office of Public Affairs at (213) 351-5886. To
learn more about these outstanding recipients,
check out the Director's Page on L.A. Kids.
Congratulations to all of the honorees!
Outstanding Administrative Service Staff Award
July: Paul Gaeta,
Assistant Regional Administrator,
Antelope Valley West Office
August: No nominees submitted.
September: Aris Banico,
Children's Services Administrator I,
Specialized Programs
Outstanding Direct Service Staff Award
July: Walter Huitema,
Children's Social Worker III,
Out-of-Home Care Programs
August: Steven Newman,
Children's Social Worker III,
North Hollywood Adoptions Unit
September: Natalie Oster,
Children's Social Worker III,
Antelope Valley East Office
UPCOMING EVENTS
Director's Employees
of the Month
NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY
Saturday, November 20, 2004
8:30 a.m.
Edmund D. Edelman Children's Court,
Monterey Park
Information: 310-972-3120
Courts around the country along with
Edelman Children's Court will open their
doors to finalize hundreds of adoptions and
celebrate the adoptive families.
SUPERVISOR MICHAEL D.
ANTONOVICH'S
'MAGIC MOUNTAIN HOLDIAY FESTIVAL'
Saturday, December 4, 2004
10 a.m.
Magic Mountain, Valencia
Information: (626) 938-1763
A day of fun beginning with gifts and lunch
for 500 foster youth, ages 7 to 18 who live
in the Covina, North Hollywood, Santa
Clarita, Lancaster, and Pasadena areas.
L. A . C o un t y B o a rd o f
S uper v iso r s
DON KNABE
Chair, Fourth District
GLORIA MOLINA
Chair Pro Tem, First District
YVONNE B. BURKE
SUPERVISOR YVONNE B. BURKE'S
'MAGIC MOUNTAIN HOLIDAY FESTIVAL'
Sunday, December 5, 2004
10 a.m.
Magic Mountain, Valencia
Information: (626) 938-1763
A day of fun for 400 foster youth, ages 7 to
18 who live in the Supervisor's district. Bus
transportation will be provided at regional
offices.
Second District
ZEV YAROSLAVSKY
Third District
MICHAEL D. ANTONOVICH
Fifth District
L.A. County Department of
Children and Family Services
425 Shatto Place
Los Angeles, CA 90020
www.dcfs.co.la.ca.us
www.lacounty.info
Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-540-4000
Adoptions and Foster
Care Information
1-888-811-1121
Director
David Sanders, Ph.D.
DC F S N ew s St a f f
Editor
Louise Grasmehr
Writers
Outstanding Support Service Staff Award
July: Jack Limon,
Eligibility Supervisor,
Wateridge Office
August: Leticia Castro,
Adoptions Assistant,
Belvedere Office
September: Linda Clark,
Intermediate Supervising Typist Clerk,
Century Office
Stu Riskin
Lois Shirk
Editorial Assistant
Gino Hernandez
Photography
Richard Cervantes
DCFS News is published by the Los
Angeles County Department of
Children and Family Services, Office
of Public Affairs.
For article ideas and submissions,
e-mail [email protected],
or fax to (213) 738-9257.
All submissions are subject to review
and editing.